The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal conditions, including major depressive disorder, bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis, severe low back sprain, and chronic gastritis, do not interfere with his ability to engage in substantial gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder, Bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis, Severe low back sprain, Lumbar degenerative disc disease, lumbar myositis, and arthritis lumbosacral spine, Dermatitis, allergic, with eosinophilia, Chronic gastritis, Right knee tendinitis, Left knee tendinitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 2, 2026
- Citation
- A26009540
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26009540.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder does not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or confined to his home, thus SMC based on housebound status and/or need for regular aid and attendance is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, as secondary to his already service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service harassment. Service connection was denied for a binge eating disorder as there is no evidence of such a condition.
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